fletcher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet l.

W. A. FLETCHER & W. E. KEIGI-ITLEY.

SUCTION BOX FOR PAPER MACHINES. No. 325,165. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

WITNESSES M m E,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. A. FLETCHER & W. E. KEIGHTLEY.

SUCTION BOX FOR PAPER MACHINES.

Patented Aug. 25

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, Pnnla-ulhcgnpher, Wasmnglon, 0.04

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. FLETCHER AND XVALTER KEIGHTLEY, OF CLARKSVILLE, MO.

SUCTION-BOX FOR PAPER-MACHINES.

EBPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,165, dated August25, 1885.

Application filed March 17, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. FLETCH- ER and VVALTER E. KEIGHTLEY,both residents of Olarksville, in the county of Pike and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSuction-Boxes for Paper-Machines; and. we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is aperspective view of our improved revolving suction box, showing aportion of the frame of the machinery. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 4 is anend view of the box with the head or valve removed. Fig. 5 is aperspective detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the means foradjusting the suction-aperture to its proper position. Fig. 6 is adetail view of the means for adj usting the width of the suction-surfaceof the roller, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form ofthe revolving box or roller.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Our invention has relation to revolving suction-boxes for paper-makingmachinery; and it consists in the improved construction and combinationof parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters A A indicate the portions ofthe machineframe between which the revolving box or roller B isjournaled, the said roller having a shaft, 0, which turns with one endin a bearing, 1), in one side of the frame, while the other end of theshaft is journaled in a central box or bearing of a disk, E, the saidbearing F forming a square block, G, upon the outer face of the disk,which block rests in a slot, H, in the side of the frame. The surface ofthe box or roller is perforated, being preferably made with a number ofperforations, I, arranged in sets or sections running longitudinallyacross the surface of the box, and each section of perforations opensinto alongitudinal cylindrical compartment, J, which is open at bothends.

(No model.)

The open ends of the compartments are closed at one end by a disk orhead, K, while the other end of the box or roller is provided with acircular valve-seat, L, provided with anumber of apertures, M,registering with the open ends of the compartments, which apertures aresurrounded and separated by means of raised ribs N. A circular head orvalve, 0, bears against the face of this valve-seat, fitting airtightagainst it, and has a sleeve, P, orbearing at its center, in whichbearing the shaft turns.

Q is an annular yoke, which has two pointed screws, R, passingthrough itat diametricallyopposite points and bearing with their pointed ends incorresponding recesses, S, in the side of the sleeve or hearing P, andtwo lugs or lips, T and U, project from diametrically-op posite pointsof the yoke at right angles to the screws, one, T, of the lugs beingprovided with a setscrew, V, while the other lug, U, is pro vided with aspring-cushioned pin, V, which is forced outward by a suitable springinside of the lug.

The disk E, against the inner face of which the set-screw and thespring-cushioned pin bear, has a slot, X, segmental in shape, near itsupper edge, and a set-screw, Y, passes through this slot, sliding in thesame, and enters with its inner end a plate, Z, having twoinwardly-projecting lips, A A, between which lips the spring-cushionedpin and its lug fit.

B is the aperture into which the suctionpipe is secured, and. thisaperture registers with the valve-apertures M of the end of the suctionbox.

The portions 0' of the face of the suctionbox which are nearest to theends of the same are imperforate, and tubes D, having perforations Eregistering with the perforations in the face of the box, fit in theouter ends of the compartments, and have imperforate tubes F slidingwithin them, which tubes are provided at their ends with cross-bars G,having female screw-threaded perforations H, through which perforationsa rod, l, passes, which has a right-hand screw-thread at one end and aleft-hand screw-thread at its other end, and one of these rods in theroller has a crank, J, for turning it, while the others havesprocket-wheels J over which passes a chain, J, passing also over asprocket-wheel upon the crank-shaft.

A fluted roller, K, having a covering of wire-netting, isjournaled inbearings K above the suction-box, impinging upon the same.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings is shown a slightlymodilied construction ofthe box, in which each compartment has a longitudinal slot, L, whichopens into a longitudinal recess, M, int-he face of the roller, and theentire face of the roller is covered with circumferential wires placedat any desired distance apart, which wires thus cover the open sides ofthe longitudinal recesses.

For the purpose of regulating the width of the suctionsurface of thisroller, wide rubber bands 0 may be used, although adevice similar to theone used in the other roller may be used, the stationary tubes havingslots instead of perforations, and where the said bands, which-may bemade of any other suitable material in place of rubber, will effectuallycover the open portions of the recesses.

When the suction-box is to be used, the plate Z having the two lips isadjusted by means of its set-screw so as to bring the aperture for thesuction-pipe to register with the line upon the surface of the rolleroverwhich the paper passes, thus causing suction to be applied in eachcompartment as it passes under the line of contact with the paper, thevalve turning with the yoke.

It will be seen that the spring-cushioned pin in the lug of the yokewill press against the adjustable plate upon the bearing-disk E, andthus force the yoke, and through it the valve, inward, pressing thevalve against the seat and causing it to fit tightly against the same,so as to prevent waste of suction-power, the setscrew V in the oppositelug or lip-serving to adjust the tension of the spring and pin againstthe adjustable plate by bearing more orless against the disk, accordingto its being screwed farther out or in.

It will also be observed that when theroller or suction-box is revolvingthe apertures in the valve-seat will pass sufficiently fast bytheaperture in the valve that the suction will. be

continuous.

The fluted roller at the top of the suctionbox will assist in p'ressingout the water from the paper, helping to make the operation of the boxmore perfect.

By turning the cranks upon the threaded rods passing through the severalcompartments the width of the suction-surface of the box or roller may.be adjusted so-as to admit of the box being-used with any width ofpaper, the inner tubes closing the perforations in the lining-tubes andcompartments, starting from the ends of the same.

Having thus described: our invention, we claim and" desire to secure by.Letters, Patent of the United States- 1. In a revolving suction-box forpapermaking machines, the combination of a re:

volving roller or box having anumber of ion-- 'gitudinal compartmentsextending under the I against the endof the roller, and having aperforation for the suction-tube registering with the open ends of thecompartments, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

2. In a paper-making machine, the combination, with a revolvingperforated suctionbox, of a roller having a perforated covering andjournaled abovethe suction-box, as and for the purpose shown and setforth.

3. In a revolving suction-box for papermaking machines, the combinationof a revolving roller or box having a number of longitudinalcompartments under its periphery opening into the said periphery throughperforations and openingat the end of the-roller, a valve seat or disk.secured upon the endof the roller and havinga number of perforationscorresponding to the open ends of the compartments and surroundedbyraisedribs, and

ya stationary disk or valve having an aperture for the insertion ofa-suction-pipe registering I with the apertures in the valve-seat, asand for the purpose shown and setforth.

4. In a revolving suction-box for papermaking machines,the combinationof arrevolving roller having a number of longitudinal compartmentsextendingunder the perforated face of the roller, and opening at the endofthe roller with a valve or head-fitting, against, the end of, theroller and having a-suctionaperture registering with the open ends ofthecompartments, and havingmeans, substantially as shown, for adjusting thedisk in a vertical plane to bring; the suction-aperture; to registerwith the line of contact for the paper upon the revolving box or roller,as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

5. In a revolving suction'box for papermaking machines, the combinationofthe sides of the machine-framehavingabearing-in one side andapolygonal slot in theother side-,ia disk havinga segmental slot nearitsedgeand having a polygonal sleeve or bearingfittingin thepolygonalslot of the frame,.a roller or box having an axialshaftand-having a number of longitudinal compartments extending under theperforatedface of the roller and opening in the-endof the roller,the'saidshaft; turning inthebearing in the-frame and in the polygonalsleeve, a valve, or disk bearing, tightly against the end-ofthe roller,havinga suction.- apertureregistering with the open ends ofithecompartments, and having. acentral outwardly-projecting-sleeve formedwith two diametricallyopp osite .recesses, an annular yoke having tw'odiametrically-opposite pointed screws bearing. in the recesses in-theaforesaid sleeve, and having two diametrically-opposite-. lugs provided,respectively, Withan outwardly pointing set-screw and with a springcush= ioned pin, and a plate having twoinwardlyprojecting lips clampingthe spring-cushioned IIO pin and its lug and provided with a set-screwsliding adjustably in the slot of the disk having the polygonal sleeve,as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

6. Ina revolving suction-box having longitudinal cylindricalcompartments extending under its perforated face, the combination of theroller having the said compartments, tubes fitting in the ends of thesaid compartments and having perforations registering with theperforations in the face of the roller and in the sides of thecompartments, imperforate tubes sliding in the perforated tubes andhaving cross-bars at their ends provided with threaded perforations, androds having means for turning them and having a right-hand and alefthand screw-thread, one at each end, fitting in the perforations ofthe crossbars of the imperforate tubes, as and for the purpose shown andset forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereuntoaffixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. FLETCHER. WALTER E. KEIGHTLEY. Witnesses:

J AMEs M. GROOM, E. J. WAHL.

